News: 2018 Other Teams Discussion Thread (spoilers)

I was just coming here to post about this. Apparently they're going ahead with their match this Saturday, but closing their dirt parking lots.

They're having a pretty bad season already -- 20 points on 22 matches, bottom of the west, haven't won since June. Now add plague fears. I wonder how many people are really going to go to this match?

 

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...ended-10-games-use-performance-enhancing-drug

 

I was shocked when I saw that announcement.

 

Back from the Loundoun Utd FC stadium opener! Great evening! It took me a little over an hour to drive from work (Bethesda); got to the stadium, I had purchased these stupid Ticketmaster mobile tickets, then I saw some people holding PAPER tickets, so I went to the ticket office, and asked them to exchange the mobile ones with paper ones, which they did, to my greatest happiness! Parking was $5, the game ticket (sideline near the corner) $22 including the TM fees, I did not eat not drink as there were long lines, so I can't say anything about that, but there were choices. The stadium is small but neat, well done, and tonight it was almost full. The game was also fun, Charlotte went up a goal three times, and three times LUFC reached them; first half was OK, but the second half was sparkling. I really felt the entusiasm of a local community who gets its local team. Oduro (former Montreal, among other teams) was on the field for Charlotte. In the second half I moved to the supporters section, the people singing and drumming were in most part DCU supporters, some Eagles, some DU mostly, and then some locals. All in all, it was really a fun evening, which I am going to repeat without any doubt in the future.

 

Forgot to mention, they were giving out a fanzine, not much in it, but at least some "souvenir" for their first real home game. Again, it was a great evening, I have a hard time recalling when I had such a good time at a soccer match.

 

Apparently Lucca is in Serie D with a new team, ownership and technical director. According to the articles in Il Tirreno, the new guy wants to build the team right, develop a youth system and get back to Serie C in three years. The Stadio Porta Elisa needs repairs so the first home match likely will be in Bagni di Lucca. For the moment, there is optimism, even if one of the players acquired is a 40 year old striker.

 

Are you going to see any Pisa game?

 

Forse, depends on the home schedule and our trip to Belgium and France at the end of the month. I have a car, is driving the best way to get to the stadium, or should I use train and/or bus?

 

Didn't you see my posts in the private conversation? I put a few of them in the past days. Here is the schedule. https://www.gazzetta.it/Media/pdf/2019/calcio/CalendarioSerie-B_19-20.pdf

The very first home game is on friday night Aug 23 at 8:45pm. They capped stadium capacity to about 9k, so tickets go fast (the supporters section is sold out with season tickets). Trains from Lucca as you know are very convenient, only a 20 min. ride, but you have to check the schedule on Trentalia webasite. Car is OK too, you can get decently close to the stadium, but arrive early or you can have a big traffic problem. My suggestion is to arrive some 90 minutes before the game at least, so no parking problems, you have the time to figure out where to go exactly etc. Remember that tickets are nominal, and the name on the ticket has to match EXACTLY the one on your ID (Passport, in your case), as well as the DOB. You will need both the tickets and the passports to get in the stadium.
I am sure you have already seen this at Lucchese in the last years.
You can get your tickets on any VIVATICKET selling points (scattered around all italian cities) or online on www.vivaticket.it

 

I think I'll go on September 14th, and will take the train from Lucca to St. Rossore which looks close to the stadium. Regarding ID, when we were last in Lucca, I handed my passport to the ticket agent in the box office -- no problems. My wife, who is even more stubborn that me, said I'm only bringing my Virginia Driver License. The poor girl at the ticket office didn't know what it was, by the time I explained it in Italian and English, we missed the opening kickoff. Lesson learned, I hope. I will use VIVATICKET and get the tickets in Piazza Napoleone in Lucca. Hopefully, someday I will be in Italy at the same time you are and we can get together and go to a Pisa match. Any particular seating to choose or avoid?

 

Yes indeed, San Rossore is closer to the stadium, regarding the seats, I can't really think of bad seats, but the difference is, if you buy the "Gradinata" you will end up standing the whole game (like in the Curva Nord), even if techically that is a seating area. If you buy the "Tribuna", you can choose between the Tribuna Coperta Inferiore and Tribuna Coperta Superiore, both are seating only areas although they come for a different price one another, but you can sit the whole game if that's what you want to do. Last but not least, a US driver's license in Italy (and elsewhere in Europe) is not an official document other than for picking up a rental car (and even so, you are better off having an international driving permit), for example you would not be able to board a domestic flight (within Italy) with it.

 

in other news - https://www.sltrib.com/sports/rsl/2019/08/12/real-salt-lake-terminates/

 

Based on that article, it looks like The Wanker may be out of coaching for a while. Not good at all.

 

I watched on ESPN and was really impressed with the team. Much closer and easier to go to Segra than Audi field so I'll definitely be going to watch in person before the season ends.

Hadn't watched a full Loudoun match and was surprised how many chances they created (especially in the 2nd half)...the team showed real heart even when a few guys got injured

Very enjoyable match

 

@griffin1108 Bologna and Pisa inverted the fields for the upcoming Coppa Italia round, the game will be played in Pisa on sunday Aug 18 at 8:45pm

 

This cracked me up, bringing back memories of Adu and his age. This kid looks like he's in his twenties!
https://www.espn.com/soccer/united-...297/adieuadu!-jacobs-youngest-to-sign-us-deal

 

Birth certificate, please!

 

Bone scan!

(For nostalgia's sake!)

 

Yes! I saw that in my news feeds this morning and I was struggling to buy that this kid was anywhere near the age they're saying he is, but he had to have come up through the youth ranks where the elite kids all submit a birth certificate at some point and it faces at least a little scrutiny before its accepted and passed on.

 

We had a kid in seventh grade, Charles Stroebel, well over six foot, 200 lbs, and shaving twice a day. It happens.

 

Without a bonescan or a legit birth certificate anyone can sneak into the 7th grade.

 

i did....then was recruited/asked to attend TJ in FCPS...so, yeah.

 

Yea I know, my kid's all star team was U10 this summer and there were kids on opposing teams who were taller (5'6"-8") than me, 3-4 who might have worn the same jacket (48) size that were bombing shots over the crossbar from 25 yds. It just struck me how mature the kid's face looked.

 

TJ High in Alexandria?